A new inclusive route nearly 8 km long is planned in Rivne.

This initiative will serve as a model for an «inclusive city», fully adapted for the needs of disabled veterans with prosthetics and other mobility-impaired individuals.

Inclusive Route in Rivne: Future Plans

The route will connect all essential locations, including the administrative center with necessary services, the OVA, and a business co-working space for veterans to start their own businesses, as well as the central Simon Petliura street, which is a hub of leisure activities in Rivne.

These changes will be implemented as part of the Inclusivity Route project aimed at transforming major Ukrainian cities into inclusive and people-centered spaces.

According to the National Health Service of Ukraine, there are nearly 100,000 prosthetic military personnel in the country.

The project was initiated by Mykyta Plyasov, head of the charity fund «Ship of Help».

«This initiative is a groundbreaking step! For the first time in Ukraine, a private fund is investing in urban infrastructure to create a state-of-the-art inclusive space that meets EU standards. Rivne is the first phase of the Inclusivity Route project, and if successful, it will be scaled to the entire country, with «Rivne Odessa», «Rivne Dnipro», «Rivne Kharkiv» and other large and small cities to follow,» said Mykyta Plyasov.

On March 18, the «Ship of Help» charity signed a memorandum with the Rivne city government to secure 8 million UAH for the project, with completion and route opening slated for late May.

What the Inclusive Route Entails

Specific improvements along the Rivne route include:

• expanding pedestrian areas,
• lowering curbs,
• installing tactile paving,
• creating raised pedestrian crossings,
• upgrading road surfaces to meet modern accessibility standards,
• installing parking bollards and drainage covers.

Importantly, new trees will be planted along the entire route, even in areas where they previously did not exist.

The route will be completed in two phases. The first 4 km will be funded by the charity and are expected to be finished within 2 months, launching in May. The subsequent 4 km will follow, planned for late summer to early autumn.

«An interesting fact: urban planners drew inspiration for the inclusive route from similar projects in Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands,» added Mykyta Plyasov.

One intriguing element will be an information sensory terminal - a modern digital device aimed at enhancing information accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

This terminal will be part of the digital transformation of the urban environment.